James Parks

James (Jim) Edward Parks, 87, of Lynchburg, VA passed away on April 25, 2024. He was the born to James Lee and Cammie Lee (Johnson) Parks and was married to Roberta (Robby) Lynn Parks for 42 years before she went to Heaven on November 27, 2019.

James was born on January 30, 1937 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended school around the Charlotte area but decided to drop out at age 16 to work at the local Park N Shop grocery store. He was elevated to store manager for his tenacious work ethic that even included selling produce in the parking lot after the store was damaged by a fire. At age 19 he joined the U.S. Navy and went on to graduate from San Pedro High School in San Pedro, CA at the age of 21.  

While in the Navy Jim anxiously sat on a U.S. aircraft carrier during the Bay of Pigs in 1961 just north of Cuba. Although he did not see any combat that day he saw more than he spoke of in his 3 tours in Vietnam with the last being with the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Recon platoon. Jim earned multiple awards for his bravery including Bronze Stars for his service amongst other military achievements. He loved being a medic and selflessly taking care of others. Jim was a licensed vocational nurse and ultimately became a Master Chief Corpsman at the peak of his 25 years of service before retiring in 1982. Although very humble about his military accolades he was very proud to speak of meeting his future bride, Robby, at the Chiefs Club in Alameda, CA. After working at Vesper Memorial Hospital in San Leandro, CA Jim took a job at San Quentin State Prison before transferring down to California Mens Colony State Prison in San Luis Obispo and living in Orcutt, CA before retiring from the State of California after 19 years. Jim and Robby decided to move out to Forest, VA in 2001 where they quickly found joy watching deer roam in their backyard as well as getting back to his old southern roots.

Jim was delighted to marry Robby along with her two sons Alejandro and Andre Morell in 1977. They added to their family with another son, Jamey, and a daughter, Misty.   Alejandro lives in Santa Maria, CA, with their grand daughter Cayla who is married to Anthony Tanner with great grandchildren Hudson, Amelia, and Thomas. Andre lives in Lynchburg with his wife Charlene and grandson, Michael. Jamey lives in Forest with wife Megan and grandchildren Devin, Norah, and Lyla. Misty also lives in Forest with husband Jeffrey Stawasz with grandchildren Paige and Aidan.

Jim’s main hobby was truly spending time with Robby and watching their kids and, eventually, grandkids sporting events. They were avid bowlers in their younger years along and loved going camping with San Leandro Cherry Pickers while living in California as well as here in Virginia. These two road warriors didn’t mind spending days in the car going cross country to see their beautiful America. They enjoyed going to church with their last place of worship being Blue Ridge Community Church in Forest. Jim and Robby loved seeing their children/grandchildren, tending to their pets, reading books, working out at the Y, watching pro sports on tv, catching movies at the theatre or on video, shopping, and playing an array of card and board games.

Jim was a quiet man with an amazing sense of humor and a patriot at heart. He was a loving man who taught his kids that nothing is more important than your own family. This man was full of grit and a never say die attitude. He made you always feel loved even when you were at fault. He will be sincerely missed by all those who knew him. In lieu of flowers Jim simply asks to pick up the phone and call that loved one you haven’t spoken to in a while. This would delight him more than any material thing would ever do. Confident in their faith in God, we know that Jim and Robby are now together in Heaven with Jesus.